Join us in this latest Academic Lesson from the world created by author J.K. Rowling as we discuss the comparisons between J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' series to J.K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' series as Fairly Stories.

Host Keith Hawk from MuggleNet and Co-host John Granger, the Hogwarts Professor, discuss a variety of topics relating to the 'Harry Potter' series with a Special Guest Speaker and a Student Guest Speaker during each lesson. In this lesson, we are joined by Dr. Amy Sturgis from Lenoir-Rhyne University and the innovative Mythgard Institute and student guest Amy Staniszewski from the University of Birmingham in the UK. We dive into the legendary fantasy genre of Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' series to determine what, if any, influence it had in the writings of Rowling in the 'Harry Potter' series. We discuss the four gifts of the Fairy Story - Fantasy, Recovery, Escape, and Consolation - to determine if these gifts fit in with the Hogwarts Saga. Did Rowling have a larger influence from Tolkien than she claims? You fill find out our thoughts on this show.

MuggleNet Academia is a podcast from the staff of the World's No. 1 Harry Potter website, MuggleNet.com (http://www.mugglenet.com/).